CORE contemporary art

What I’ve Been Looking For

Group Exhibition:-

Danielle Lin
Faez Fahmi
Fana Douau
Nadzrin Haziq
Tong Xin Lim
Zharfan Rashidi

1st October – 31st October 2024

Core Design Gallery @ SJCC Gallery

*Click on images to zoom in

The Intersection of Art, Lifestyle, and Home Design: A Journey of Personal Expression

In today’s world, the relationship between art, lifestyle, and home décor has evolved from being purely aesthetic to deeply personal. As we sit back and reflect, perhaps with a guitar in hand and an iced caramel latte on the table, we find that choosing art for our living spaces is no longer just about decoration. Instead, it’s about creating environments that resonate emotionally and reflect our true selves. While discovering what we truly need in life, selecting art that aligns with our lifestyle has become equally significant in shaping our personal spaces. The exhibition What I’ve Been Looking For explores this very connection—how art can evoke emotions in simplicity that fit seamlessly into our tiny homes, and express our individual identity.

The phrase What I’ve Been Looking For draws inspiration from the iconic Disney musical movie, High School Musical, that was released back in 2006. In the movie, the song’s lyrics reflect the idea of searching for someone to fill a void, only to realize they’ve been right beside you all along—a sentiment that easily translates to the world of art and home décor. Just as finding the right person feels like everything “clicks” into place, discovering art that complements your lifestyle has a similar effect.

In recent years, a noticeable trend has emerged: art that is easy to absorb and not too overwhelming has gained popularity, especially among younger audiences. These pieces, often described as “cutesy,” appeal to people who are just beginning to explore home décor or take tentative steps into art collecting. This trend reflects a cultural shift toward embracing simplicity and comfort in both design and life. Often inspired by mood boards, Instagram aesthetics, or Pinterest-style arrangements. In this context, art is no longer seen as an isolated object of admiration but as part of a curated environment that serves a larger purpose. It is something chosen not only for its visual appeal but for how it enhances the atmosphere of a room. In many ways, people today are selecting art as if they are building a personal gallery—one that tells a story about who they are, what they value, and how they live.

Moreover, this shift in perspective has made art more accessible. Thanks to social media platforms and design tools like Pinterest, individuals can easily curate their ideal home environments. Art has become something that anyone can appreciate and incorporate into their space, rather than something reserved for high-end collectors or galleries. It has moved from the periphery of design to the forefront, becoming a practical tool for self-expression and personal fulfillment.

In conclusion, art has transcended its traditional role as an aesthetic object to become a vital part of how we live and express ourselves. The modern homeowner sees art as more than decoration; it’s a way to communicate identity, evoke emotions, and enhance the overall atmosphere of a living space. Whether inspired by pop culture, personal taste, or interior design trends, the pieces we choose today help us create homes that are as much about our aspirations as they are about our day-to-day comforts. In this new landscape, art is not just something we look at—it’s something that speaks to who we are and the life we want to lead.

Danielle Lin

Coming from Ipoh, Perak, Danielle Lin (b.2001) graduated from the Malaysian Institute of Arts (M.I.A) with a Diploma in Fine Arts in 2021. She has participated in numerous competitions, exhibitions, and projects, also gaining experience as a curator for several exhibitions. In the same year of her graduation, Danielle was awarded the grand prize in ‘Bakat Mahasiswa,’ hosted by M.I.A and the National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Lukis Negara). Danielle’s art features an allegory of indirect, cynical yet humorous puns towards the reality of life, using cute characters or subjects to project a visual contradiction.

In her latest piece, “Twins,” Danielle delves into the allegory of contrasts within similarities, portraying two doll-like girls who approach different hobbies with distinct perspectives. One girl engages in taxidermy, preserving and studying the remains of once-living creatures, while the other collects plushies, sometimes treating them as if they were sentient beings. The artwork highlights an intriguing paradox: while taxidermy is often viewed as eerie or taboo, plushie collectors who project life onto inanimate objects engage in a similarly puzzling behavior. Through “Twins,” Danielle poses a broader question about why we adhere to societal labels and whether these labels are merely a reflection of unnecessary judgment.

Faez Fahmi

Faez Fahmi (1998), A Kelantan born artist graduated with a Master degree in Fine Art and Technology from UiTM in the year of 2023. Faez has been quite active participating numerous competitions and exhibitions, had his breakthrough in the year of 2021 for exploring abstract expressionism during his masters studies. He was then inspired by his late mentor, Azian Hashim who guided him with the exploration of materiality and application of newly acquired techniques. Using white cement to create heavy textures and strong bold colours of strokes replicating the imageries of flora and nature as a symbol in conveying his way of seeing life.

After his first solo endeavour “Luar Jendela”, Faez continued his nature landscaping by the window series with his latest, “Blue Sky Morning”. This artwork was created based on his experience witnessing the captivating beauty of the morning scenery through the window. The sky appeared in a brilliant shade of blue, and that moment inspired me to capture it, turning it into an idea that I could later visualize in my work according to my own style and interpretation. Although the context is not particularly profound, what an artist observes can still be transformed into a piece of art in their own way.

Fana Duoau

Faez Fahmi (1998), A Kelantan born artist graduated with a Master degree in Fine Art and Technology from UiTM in the year of 2023. Faez has been quite active participating numerous competitions and exhibitions, had his breakthrough in the year of 2021 for exploring abstract expressionism during his masters studies. He was then inspired by his late mentor, Azian Hashim who guided him with the exploration of materiality and application of newly acquired techniques. Using white cement to create heavy textures and strong bold colours of strokes replicating the imageries of flora and nature as a symbol in conveying his way of seeing life.

After his first solo endeavour “Luar Jendela”, Faez continued his nature landscaping by the window series with his latest, “Blue Sky Morning”. This artwork was created based on his experience witnessing the captivating beauty of the morning scenery through the window. The sky appeared in a brilliant shade of blue, and that moment inspired me to capture it, turning it into an idea that I could later visualize in my work according to my own style and interpretation. Although the context is not particularly profound, what an artist observes can still be transformed into a piece of art in their own way.

Faez Fahmi

Faez Fahmi (1998), A Kelantan born artist graduated with a Master degree in Fine Art and Technology from UiTM in the year of 2023. Faez has been quite active participating numerous competitions and exhibitions, had his breakthrough in the year of 2021 for exploring abstract expressionism during his masters studies. He was then inspired by his late mentor, Azian Hashim who guided him with the exploration of materiality and application of newly acquired techniques. Using white cement to create heavy textures and strong bold colours of strokes replicating the imageries of flora and nature as a symbol in conveying his way of seeing life.

After his first solo endeavour “Luar Jendela”, Faez continued his nature landscaping by the window series with his latest, “Blue Sky Morning”. This artwork was created based on his experience witnessing the captivating beauty of the morning scenery through the window. The sky appeared in a brilliant shade of blue, and that moment inspired me to capture it, turning it into an idea that I could later visualize in my work according to my own style and interpretation. Although the context is not particularly profound, what an artist observes can still be transformed into a piece of art in their own way.

Faez Fahmi

Faez Fahmi (1998), A Kelantan born artist graduated with a Master degree in Fine Art and Technology from UiTM in the year of 2023. Faez has been quite active participating numerous competitions and exhibitions, had his breakthrough in the year of 2021 for exploring abstract expressionism during his masters studies. He was then inspired by his late mentor, Azian Hashim who guided him with the exploration of materiality and application of newly acquired techniques. Using white cement to create heavy textures and strong bold colours of strokes replicating the imageries of flora and nature as a symbol in conveying his way of seeing life.

After his first solo endeavour “Luar Jendela”, Faez continued his nature landscaping by the window series with his latest, “Blue Sky Morning”. This artwork was created based on his experience witnessing the captivating beauty of the morning scenery through the window. The sky appeared in a brilliant shade of blue, and that moment inspired me to capture it, turning it into an idea that I could later visualize in my work according to my own style and interpretation. Although the context is not particularly profound, what an artist observes can still be transformed into a piece of art in their own way.

Faez Fahmi

Faez Fahmi (1998), A Kelantan born artist graduated with a Master degree in Fine Art and Technology from UiTM in the year of 2023. Faez has been quite active participating numerous competitions and exhibitions, had his breakthrough in the year of 2021 for exploring abstract expressionism during his masters studies. He was then inspired by his late mentor, Azian Hashim who guided him with the exploration of materiality and application of newly acquired techniques. Using white cement to create heavy textures and strong bold colours of strokes replicating the imageries of flora and nature as a symbol in conveying his way of seeing life.

After his first solo endeavour “Luar Jendela”, Faez continued his nature landscaping by the window series with his latest, “Blue Sky Morning”. This artwork was created based on his experience witnessing the captivating beauty of the morning scenery through the window. The sky appeared in a brilliant shade of blue, and that moment inspired me to capture it, turning it into an idea that I could later visualize in my work according to my own style and interpretation. Although the context is not particularly profound, what an artist observes can still be transformed into a piece of art in their own way.

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